Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-16
THE HAWAIIAN DIFFICULTY.
AS Related by a Gentleman Recently
from the Islands.

recent governmental difficulties there. One
prominent gentleman, speaking OF the
affair to a representative of the RECORD.
UNION, said
shall not give you any opiRion OF
my own concerning the Hawaiian troubles
for | was not at the Islands long enough to
get at the true inwardness of them ]
can only state what | heard concerning
them while there. For some time a vol
| cano, so to speak, has been slumbering
beneath the throne. What the causes OF
the discomfort are | am not prepared TO say.
The probability is that there are many
things leading up to the present condition
of affairs. In all communities dissatisfac-
ton with the conduct of governmental af-
! fairs arise among the people, and real or
fancied wrongs are often greatly magnified,
yet in this case the agitation is being made
by class of people who are not likely to
act upon fancied wrong, and it is probable
that there are some reforms that are needed.
There is really little ill-feeling against
the King himself. Expressions were heard
from all sides that the King would be a
better sovereign if he was free from the in
fiuence of Premier Gibson. The senti-
ment against Gibson is very bitter. He is
reputed to be shrewd and unscrupulous,
| always looking ont for chance to turn an
honest penny. Some years ago he was
at Java. While there he instigated
an Instruction against the Dutch,
and cost the United States some
trouble and considerable expense.
have been informed that after that he was a
pirate for some years. that when he came
to the Sandwich Islands he posed as a
| Mormon elder that after making some
converts he took up subscriptions among
| nd tha iclo nf I ,r,,f \
| the money. The purpose was to form a
Mormon colony. Gibson took the deed to
! the land i'll his own name, and is now the
sole owner of that island. After this he
| fell from grace and forsook the faith. 1t
is said that the King is somewhat vain
that in his tour around the world six
| years ago he saw great deal of the pomp
| of royalty; that, after returning home be
set about to introduce that which had
pleased him into his kingdom. Gibson, to
feather his own nest encouraged him in
his visionary schemes. 1t is said that he
tickled the vanity of the King by sugges-
ting that the latter could and would be-
come Emperor of the entire Polynesian
group of islands. To carry out this
idea, gunboat was built which cost
the Government over 100000. 1t
was equipped, and within the last
year was sent to Samoa, where it still re-
which broke the cameTs back, so far as the
mains. This seems to have been the straw
foreign residents were concerned They
own the greater portion of the property,
and hence pay the taxes to support such
outlay. They thought the money could
have been better spent in building roads
and other internal improvements.
about eighteen months ago a reform
league was organized, plans of procedure
were perfected which eliminated in the
mass meeting held in June. l attended it
to learn what | could of the affairs of the
Kingdom. For some time prior to that
meeting large quantities of arms were i'm
ported by leading merchants of Honolulu
All persons who Joined the league and
took its oath of fealty were furnished
with Winchester rifle and with
ammunition. In this manner some
1000 persons, mostly foreigners, were
armed and equipped. The Honolulu Rifles,
an organization whose officers receive their
commissions from the King, are in full
sympathy with the League, and when the
time for action came they acted with
it. The mass meeting was attended by
some 5000 people, and was very orderly
Speeches were made in the Hawaiian, Eng
lish and Portuguese languages. The senti-
ments uttered were generally determined.
but not violent. There was no intimation
of any desire to overthrow the Government,
or to establish a republic. Each
speaker declared that the Hawaiian
flag was the one under which he wished to
live. They seemed to think that the King
was possessed of too much power; that at
night ne could withdraw the portfolios of
all his ministers, kick them out of office,
and have new set fully installed
before breakfast the next morning.
That Minister who dared to object to
anything proposed by his Majesty must
step down and out at once. Herein lies
the secret of Gibson's long service as
Minister-he never opposed the King.
Resolutions were presented to the meeting,
and passed unanimously, which exacted of
the King non-interference on the part
of his Majesty, either directly
or indirectly with the election of
representatives; non-interference with
legislation, by undue influence over the
legislators an entirely new Cabinet to be
composed of persons to be selected from
names of citizens therein mentioned a
restitution of ST. 900, which it was claimed
had been received as an opium bride. He
was given twenty-four hours in which to
return unequivocal answers. Within that
time he acceded to all demands
except the last one, the truth of which
he did not admit but agreed to lay that
matter before the new Cabinet, and act ac-
cording to their decision. There seemed
10 be at this meeting a general feeling that
his Majesty's promise was not reliable, and
it was so expressed. Many rumors pre-
vailed during the next few days
as to what the King would or
would not do. In an interview
with his Majesty, he informed me
that he should keep his promises, and be-
lieved that everything would be well. He
expressed a willingness to do whatever
would be best for his subjects. AS regards
the new Constitution, no one could tell
what that was to contain. He will sign it
unless it should contain a real property
qualification of voters. Such a provision
would disfranchise nine-tenths of the
kanakas."
Rep-It has been said that the King will
bedethroned by the league, should he re-
fuse to sign the new Constitution. What
do you think of it?
Answer-No, sir; he will not be de-
throned. kalakaua is to-day either King
or a CORPSE. The members OF the League
know too well that it would not do to de-
throne and imprison him; that he would
be replaced by foreign powers, and that
then their day of retribution would come.
Foreign powers do not want the islands,
but they want that little kingdom in the
sea preserved 1t is central and IS useful
for harbor and coaling place.
Rep.-But a prominent newspaper has
stated that the King has already refused to
sign the new Constitution.
Ans.-That is incorrect. The last posi-
BILE information that could be received from
the Hawaiian Kingdom came by the steamer
Australia, of which was passenger. His
Majesty's Chamberlain came on board a few
minutes before the gang-plank was pulled
ashore, and, in a conversation with me,
positively assured me that the King had
not yet seen the Constitution that he
understood that an hour previous it had
been submitted to the foreign Min
listers for their inspection. 1t would
then go to the Chancellor of the
kingdom, before being presented for the
Kings signature. The King is an affAble,
agreeable and intelligent gentlemen, and
is especially attentive to foreigners who
visit the islands. should be exceedingly
sorry to learn of any serious trouble, and
hope that the difficulty will be satisfaeto-
rily adjusted.
IMMIeRATIox FIGUREs.-The Inlmigra-
ton Association reports that the arrivals in